Electric furnace.



Patented June 29, 1909.

//V VIA/707E @MZM no sures PATENT JEAN BOUNEAU, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

ELECTRIC FURNACE.

are. 926,286.

Application filed July 17, 1907.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 384,218.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEAN BOUNEAU, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Paris, in France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Electric Furnaces, of which the following is a specifics" is cold and that the archas to maintain. the

reduced mass in fusion, till the full reaction of the charge is effected. Further the electrodes placed vertically endwise only reduced about a third of the charge submitted to the action of the current in a crucible into the center of which the electrode passes; only that part, which is near the are being reduced, while the other part undergoes but an incomplete transformation.

The above disadvantages are obviated by means of the present improvements which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal section of a blast furnace, provided with the improvements. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof and Fig. 3 a plan-view.

In all the figures the various parts are designated as follows: a, the reaction-chamher; 6, the shaft; 0, manhole for the shaft 1) (Z, the shaft inlet; 0, horizontal electrodes; g, trolleys carrying the electrodes; 70, tap hole; Z, refining chamber; m, refining crucilJlc; 0, negative electrode of the positive crucible; 7, tap hole for the crucible m, 71 track for the trolleys g, r branch track and a the uptake from shaft 7).

The operation is as follows: The electrodes 6 carried by the movable trolleys g, g, on the rails '2', 1', and moved by suitable mechanical means, are moved eudwise into the furnace a, The charge is theninserted in suflicient quantity to'covcr the electrodes and the walls of the furnace a. The electrode 0 is placed in contact with the carbon tains said mass in fusion.

crucible m, and the inlet (Z and manhole o are closed in any known or suitable manner. By moving the trolleys and consequently the electrodes e e away from one another, the arc is struck and the charge near the latter is infused and passes between the electrodes c, 6, into the refining chamber m and out through tap hole 3). When the reduction has commenced a further charge is inserted sufficient to nearly fill the shaft Z in order that the 'heatand reaction gases in passing to the uptake 2 may pass through the mixture and heat same. When sufficient fused mass has accumulated in the crucible m, the electrode 0 may be raised and the are formed main- The electrode 0 being placed in proximity to the running tap hole 79 compels the reduced material to under o thd action of the are a second time be- ,t: fore dischar e and thus cause it to be cleared ofimpurities which pass between the electrodes c c. The operation is continuous and when the electrodes 6, c are consumed they are removed from the furnace and replaced by others which may be mounted on trolleys on the branch track 1 If desired, the manhole 0 may serve for the introduction of the preliminary charge in order to permit agitation of the charge in case of need, and to follow the hourse of the reaction.

lVhat I claim asmy invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:--

1. An electric furnace comprising a reaction chamber, a shaft above the same and in communication therewith, said shaft having a sloping floor almost separating it from the chamber, an uptake from the said shaft, electrodes in said chamber, carriagescarrying said electrodes, and rails on which the carriages are movable, and asource of electricity connected to the rails said electrodes. carriages and rails being electrically connected together.

2. An electric furnace comprising a reac tion chamber, a shaft communicating with said chamber and having a charge inlet. means for subjecting the material in the shaft to the heat lost by the radiation of the 'havingan outlet therein, and an auxiliary reducfion hearth, an uptake from the shaft, In Witness whereof I have signed this elfectrfes in the chamber, a fefining chamber specification in the presence of two Witnesses. 0 car on open to the air anci communicatin I T11 "ith said reaction chamber, said chambe? 1 JEAN BGUBILAU" Q Witnesses:

eiecirode adjacent. sai'outlet, sai refining JACK H. BAKER, chamber fcrming one cf the poles. 1 HANSON (1Com. 

